But the Northants team eventually earned a narrow success, winning 68-64.

In the four-point win, Cameron Samuels and Ed Wallhead led the scoring with 18 points apiece.

Zac Kitchen scored 13 points and Chris Amankonah 11, but the rest of the team could only contribute eight points between them.

Lewandowski hits 10 in defeat to Albion

THE Cadet Boys were overwhelmed by West Bromwich Albion, suffering a 73-47 defeat in the Under 16 Boys National League (Midlands West Conference).

Only Adam Lewandowski, with 10 points, could score in double figures, although rookie Ashley Kitchen, Cameron Leighton and Connor White all made decent contributions.

Kitchen cleans up as Rockets are grounded

THUNDER beat City of Birmingham Rockets IIs 73-65 in the Under 14 Boys National League (Midlands West Conference).

It was a third win of the season for Thunder, whose scoring was led by Ashley Kitchen, with 22 points.

Benas Maldutis supported well with 13 points.

Dina delivers huge haul in derby win

It was another weekend of mixed fortunes for Northants Lightning, but they secured local bragging rights by beating Northamptonshire Titans 77-49 in the Under 14 Girls National League (Midland Conference).

Lightning were led by a magnificent 41 points from Dina Kosnikovska.

Good support came from Chloe Stevens and Fiona Arthur, with 12 and 10 points respectively.

The Lightning players were very much brought back down to earth the next day when they travelled to Luton to take on the joint leaders of the Midlands Conference.

Lightning lost 66-34, despite Chloe Stevens shooting well from the perimeter and Ashia King showing a lot of potential as she battled the boards with girls much taller and older than her.

Fixtures

Saturday, December 9: 9.30am-11am: Junior Ballers session; 11.30am: Under 14 Girls versus Shenley, Under 14 Boys versus Worcester Wolves; 2pm: Under 16 Boys versus Coventry Tornadoes; 4pm: Senior Men versus Birmingham Mets II (all of these games will be played ay the Basketball Centre which is situated at Northampton School for Girls, Spinney Hill Road, Northampton - spectators are welcome and admission is free); Junior Men travel to Frankley Falcons